Pacquiao willing to accept testing up to 14 days before Mayweather fight
by Scott Christ on May 3, 2010 11:03 PM EDT
in Boxing News Analysis
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In a move that may signal the start of a fruitful negotiation, Manny Pacquiao today said that he's willing to take blood and urine testing up to 14 days before a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., a softening on his stance of 30 days the last time the two sat at the negotiating table.
From ESPN.com:
"I am willing to help the sport for the future of the sport. I do not want to see anyone cheat or cheat this sport. For that reason I am willing to consider taking blood [tests] as close as 14 days prior to the fight, as long as my opponent does the same, and it is not a lot of blood, just enough to test," Pacquiao is quoted as saying on his official website.
Mayweather doing the same has never been an issue. He just proved that with Shane Mosley, as the two underwent the random USADA testing. Whether or not 14 days will be enough to appease Mayweather and his camp is another story, but it's a bend if nothing else. It shows that at least the window to negotiate usefully is cracked again, if not wide open.
My gut feeling is we won't see them fight this year, but that next year it might happen. I want it this year. I want it next. It makes all the sense in the world, the public is craving it, and if you keep taking it off the stove, it's just going to ruin what this fight really should be. They both just dismantled top five welterweights in March and this past weekend in very big fights. This fight is not going to get any hotter than it is right now. Another jerk-around period where they each fight somebody again later this year will not be met well. People will give up on the idea, and then if it comes around again next year, no one will have any good reason to believe it'll actually happen.
It's not strictly now or never, but for this to be the fight it deserves to be, it's now or never, I believe. It could still be huge next year, but it's unbelievably big right now. Personally I loathe the "us versus them" mentality of the fight, and I truly dread the potentially ugly build-up and hype cycle, but the fight itself will be worth sitting through that garbage.
It's time for everyone to check the egos, stop the excuses, and make the fight. Everyone remotely involved with this possible fight has to know that they do not get any bigger. It could be the most profitable fight any of them ever put on. If dollars truly make sense, this can't be passed up again.
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It's going to happen
If I remember correctly when pacman would not go less than 30 days mayweathers camp tried to get him down to at least 14. The time is now for this fight. When your on a roll you want to keep it going, and both ate on one.
"I guess I can’t do anything if you’re just irrational, but to point it out and move on."
- fundamentallysound
by J Theory on May 3, 2010 11:12 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
14 for FM and 21for MP were absolutes before
FM wanted MP to be flexible up to 14 days before the fight. If MP is willing to do that now, then FM should accomodate that number again: if so the fight will happen…
by The Pinoy Pikey on May 3, 2010 11:41 PM EDT reply actions
if this fight is ever made 100% official, there will be a shitstorm of haters and fanboys that make us gentlemanly hardcores ashamed
Texans 19-0 in 2010-2011 season PERIOD
by battle axe of doom on May 3, 2010 11:56 PM EDT reply actions
I will most definitely be avoiding comments sections!
"All the time he's boxing, he's thinking. All the time he was thinking, I was hitting him." - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on May 6, 2010 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
really?
can we have the link for that report please?
thanks!
I’ve just read your link.. damn. I thought Pacquiao has already blinked.
Hmmm. Something here doesn’t sound right. You know what I think? I think Manny IS willing to concede to the 14 days, probably DID say so, and Arum is trying to do a little damage control. Whoo, Arum must be pissed. There’s no budgin’ on nothin’ without Bobfather’s say so.
it's possible
There’s a new FP post on this topic.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
I don’t know how realistic it was to get a sample days before the fight anyways. Did 24/7 ever say what happened with Mosley on that last test? It seemed like he just said no to the urine, signed a sheet of paper and they left? Not that Manny has trouble making 147, and he recently said he wants speed, but it’s not a time when either boxer is necessarily brimming with urine and ready to give up blood.
I’m pretty sure Freddie Roach was worried about getting that same 3 tests in 10 days treatment that Mosley got, but having it happen days before the fight. He’s never actually said they NEED 14 days— I think he told Jim Rome something like 3 —so it sounds like everyone is finally willing to give in to Mayweather for money’s sake. Amen.
by Arthur from Anaheim Calling on May 4, 2010 12:39 AM EDT reply actions
Fingers crossed.
I could see the money being an issue. If Mayweather breaks 1.5MM buys, which seems unlikely as I type this, then the 50-50 split is probably off. 60-40 seems unrealistic, but I could see 55-45 or 52-48. If he does the 1MM-1.2MM that is currently projected, I think he has a much harder time demanding a much greater share.
As for the testing, I think Mayweather will be flexible in light of the actual tests that he just experienced versus the theoretical discussions that colored the last negotiations. By that I mean, urine seems the most difficult to produce while trying to make weight (and I do believe that Manny has to cut some weight prior to the weigh-in), whereas blood is plentiful. If they (meaning Manny and Floyd) are practical, I think they can work out a scheme that is consistent with the realities of professional boxing. Hopefully cooler heads will prevail.
This is the one fight that non-fans give a shit about
There are people I know who don’t even watch sports who ask me about this fight. Something’s gotta give somewhere. This is boxing’s Citibank. It’s too big to fail.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
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